Quantcast

Chuck CR FS

CBJ

year old fart
Mar 19, 2002
12,863
4,161
Copenhagen, Denmark
A little something for the old schoolers.

A customer had brought in a Chuck CR FS including the original RCR shock. What a blast from the past. I had never seen one in person but back in 90s I though they were really cool. The bike still looked good but I have no idea how it rides. Found some pictures:





* Fabrication: Monocoque front and rear triangle, .053 Kaiser® 6061 T-6 51 Precision Plate
* Weight: 6.1 lbs. (2,770 grams) including shock
* Travel: 4.5", fully active
* Rear Suspension: RCR T-2 2-way externally adjustable (compression/rebound damping), fully user-servicable, coil-over shock
* Derailleur Hanger: Hard anodized, replaceable
* Pivots: All Simplicity® sealed cartridge bearings
* Manufactured: Hand built in Lake Arrowhead, Calif. USA
* Paint: Etched, primed, hand-sprayed and clear-coated for a dramatic, durable finish
* Colors: Red, Yellow, Blue, Black or custom to your specifications
* Sizes: Small (16"), Medium (18"), Large (20"), Extra-Large (22")
* Note: Requires XT / XTR E-type front derailleur (BB mount)
* Warranty: to original owner for 100 years from date of purchase
 

ire

Turbo Monkey
Aug 6, 2007
6,196
4
I always thought those things were cool....pretty light, especially for the time
 

Nick

My name is Nick
Sep 21, 2001
23,928
14,450
where the trails are
A friend of mine still has one (also red) in his basement. He rode it for years, then lifted parts from her for whatever his new bike was at the moment.
 

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
5,921
borcester rhymes
wow, great grab. How much did you pay? Used to love the chuck frames, they were huge. Don't know who chuck was or why he loved welded monocoque, but that's cool as heck.
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
18,855
9,560
AK
Lusted over those big time. It was that and the original Turner Afterburner.
 

iRider

Turbo Monkey
Apr 5, 2008
5,648
3,089
wow, great grab. How much did you pay? Used to love the chuck frames, they were huge. Don't know who chuck was or why he loved welded monocoque, but that's cool as heck.
I heard rumors that Darren from Push was involved in Chuck. I tried to contact him on here but so far no response. Would love to get some scans of old catalogues and such. They weren't cheap, international shipping increased the price too. But oh well, always wanted them and they are super rare in Europe. I guess they will initially be wall art until I find the time to build them. But finally my buddies can't tease me about my Intense addiction anymore: it has now officially become a "made in the USA aluminum monocoque bikes" addiction. :D
 

iRider

Turbo Monkey
Apr 5, 2008
5,648
3,089
Are those restored or just really good condition?
Original paint, not restored. No dents, minimal scratches but paint chips from gravel on the down tube, mainly on the FS. They for sure have been ridden but the previous owner was a collector and took care of them well.
 

daisycutter

Turbo Monkey
Apr 8, 2006
1,651
124
New York City
I still have my Chuck FS upstate at my moms garage complete with full XTR , Hope Mini brakes and bomber fork. A few times a year I take it out for a spin. The bike still rides very well for its age, though it’s not as stiff or light as today’s bikes.
 
Last edited:

daisycutter

Turbo Monkey
Apr 8, 2006
1,651
124
New York City
* Warranty: to original owner for 100 years from date of purchase.(If we stay in business. )


They went out of business in about two years. I think it got too expensive and time consuming to manufacture the frames. The weld time alone must have made the bike difficult to manufacture. Darin went to RCN shocks and bailed on that creating PUSH industries. The Chuch FS was a well made frame which I don’t regret buying even with the creaking bb issue the frames were known for.
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
18,855
9,560
AK
* Warranty: to original owner for 100 years from date of purchase.(If we stay in business. )


They went out of business in about two years. I think it got too expensive and time consuming to manufacture the frames. The weld time alone must have made the bike difficult to manufacture. Darin went to RCN shocks and bailed on that creating PUSH industries. The Chuch FS was a well made frame which I don’t regret buying even with the creaking bb issue the frames were known for.

One thing that stands out on this, and the early turners, was the use of the "3-d" linkages that either stepped down (in the case of Chuck) or were machined to, taper, to use a short bolt with the shock mount. It sounds somewhat arbitrary maybe, but this is one of the biggest clues to me that someone has some kind of F-ing clue about what is going on. So many bikes used ridiculous long shock pins that bent all the time for years after. One of the most ridiculous was my foes, which due to the scissor link, required an even longer bolt, and it bent all the time. It took a while for RM to make a big deal about this, but it was in play long before and refreshing to see on some of these early frames. This was why you bought from Chuck, Turner, etc.
 

iRider

Turbo Monkey
Apr 5, 2008
5,648
3,089
I still have my Chuck FS upstate at my moms garage complete with full XTR , Hope Mini brakes and bomber fork. A few times a year I take it out for a spin. The bike still rides very well for its age, though it’s not as stiff or light as today’s bikes.
Would you mind sharing a picture of the bike?
 

iRider

Turbo Monkey
Apr 5, 2008
5,648
3,089
BTW: anyone know if their M1-like DH bike ever made it into production?

 

daisycutter

Turbo Monkey
Apr 8, 2006
1,651
124
New York City
Time pedals work well but these are set to be replaced after ten years as I bent one recently . The Hope Mini’s have also worked well for ten years 14 years plus. No plans to replace them.
 

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
5,921
borcester rhymes
that was supposed to be a <3 next to the pedals...those old ATACs are awesome to look at. I had a pair of the Aliums that I didn't like, but every time I see the black body with a yellow red or green time, I nostalgia hard.